Should the Chicago Bulls consider using Goran Dragic as a starting point guard?

The Chicago Bulls have lost their last three games and five of their last six, dropping to 6-9 on the season. The last two defeats were concerning blowouts against the Nuggets and Pelicans.

There’s plenty of basketball left, and the Bulls can still turn the season around. But something needs to be done, and a lineup tweak seems like the obvious move.

Goran Dragic has exceeded expectations

Goran Dragic has been productive all season long. He’s averaging 9.8 points and 3.8 assists in just 19.3 minutes in 15 games while shooting 44.9 percent from three-point range. Dragic’s lob passes have endeared him to his teammates, especially Ayo Dosunmu and Coby White who both praised his leadership.

“I enjoy it so much here. You get to a new team, new city, new people, and it’s such a nice vibe for me,” Dragic said in an interview with NBC Sports Chicago following a recent practice. “Good communication with Billy (Donovan), who is a great coach. I just feel happy. I think that’s the most important thing, especially at the end of your career. That you’re productive and happy.”

Dragic had six points and seven assists on 3-of-7 shooting in 20 minutes of Wednesday’s 124-110 road loss against the Pelicans. He outplayed starting point guard Ayo Dosunmu, which has become a trend. Dosunmu struggled on Wednesday, scoring just four points with three rebounds and one assist on 2-of-5 from the field and 0-of-3 from three-point range in 28 minutes.

The Bulls’ starters are getting blitzed to start the first and third quarters, so head coach Billy Donovan should ponder a lineup change. Trying Dragic as the starting point guard is a reasonable idea.

Dragic’s minutes

The only problem is that the Bulls want to manage Dragic’s minutes carefully; the veteran point guard is averaging 19.3 minutes per game, and he’s played 25 or more minutes in just two games. Dragic is ready for anything the Bulls need.

“I feel good, especially me and Billy finding the perfect balance between 15 and 20 minutes,” Dragic said. “Of course everybody wants to play more. That’s not a bad thing. I’m just here for the team, what the team needs. Sometimes if Billy needs me to play 30 minutes, I’m ready to play 30 minutes. If he needs me 15, I’m ready to play 15.”

A lineup tweak can help, but the Bulls have other urgent problems, like offensive continuity, defensive focus, turnovers, and rebounding; all of which might be resolved when Lonzo Ball finally returns from injury.